Report: Seahawks, Richard Sherman close to extension

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman already calls himself the best cornerback in the game, and soon he may have the contract to back that up. According to a report by CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, the Seahawks and Sherman are closing in on a multi-year contract extension that will make the All-Pro cornerback the highest-paid player at his position.

If the reports about his contract extension prove true, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman will soon have a lot to smile about. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

The report also states that while nothing is imminent, Sherman could sign the deal before next month’s NFL draft.

According to La Canfora’s sources, Hawks GM John Schneider and Sherman’s agents have made “considerable progress” in talks that have been characterized as “amicable and productive.” The anticipated deal would pay the Stanford graduate more than $13 million per season after he was set to earn less than $1.5 million in total compensation from the Hawks in 2014, according to numbers from Over the Cap.

[Updated 3:00 p.m. According Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the deal might not be quite as close as La Canfora made it seem. Florio’s sources told him the contract talks are “nowhere near what has been reported” and dollar amounts have not been agreed upon.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport echoed Florio’s sentiments:

Talked to more people on Sherman’s deal, I believe it’s more in line with what @ProFootballTalk said. Talks going well, LOT of work to do

Meanwhile, Schneider failed to confirm La Canfora’s report during a Tuesday radio interview. “I’m glad Jason thinks it’s close. That’s a good sign,” Schneider told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “He’s a good guy, but I would rather not get into specifics of individual’s negotiations. That’s something that we keep in-house here.”]

Keeping Sherman in the fold would take care of one of the Seahawks most pressing offseason items with both he and All-Pro safety Earl Thomas entering the final year of their rookie contracts. Keeping both members of the “Legion of Boom” secondary would go a long way toward Seattle maintaining the NFL’s No. 1 pass defense — a key factor in the Hawks’ 2013 championship run.

Since entering the league as an unheralded fifth-round pick in 2011, Sherman, 26, has developed into one of the top defensive backs in the game. A tough, physical corner with impeccable ball skills who is also willing to help in run defense, Sherman led the league with 8 interceptions last season and matching his total from 2012. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder was voted first-team All-Pro in both 2012 and 2013.

Sherman created further controversy with his post-game interview following January’s NFC Championship Game when he taunted San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree, calling Crabtree “sorry” and “mediocre” after Sherman helped make a game-clinching play that sent the Seahawks to Super Bowl XLVIII.

After growing up in Compton, Calif., Sherman signed to play wide receiver at Stanford. He transitioned to defense for his final two seasons in Palo Alto, where he played under current Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh.